Patients taking selfies in clinical areas

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

I hate this selfie trend with a passion. Seriously. People look so freaking stupid when they hold up their phone and snap a picture with ugly duck lips. And this trend is so pervasive, that people are taking selfies in places where they really shouldn't. I've noticed with young patients that are close to my age that have surgery, many of them take selfies of themselves in PACU or Phase 2 (when they get their belongings back). What should I do when I see them taking out their stupid phones and making those stupid duck lips? No, there is not set hospital policy regarding patients taking selfies. There should be though.

[Emergent, RN]

I would like to see phones banned in patient areas, except for personal use by a patient. Visitors should make calls from waiting rooms.

I hate selfies too, they annoy me.

[NurseMegannn]

I work pre-op and PACU, and I see people taking selfies aaaaaall the time! To me, that's not as bad as patients and families taking pics and videos with me in the background. There are rules for patient privacy, but not for healthcare workers' privacy.

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

Just the other day a mother of a pediatric patient I had allowed back in PACU took a selfie with the patient, her son. I wasn't in the background and neither was anyone else but still. *****! I should bring this up to management. We need a set policy on this, because patients can violate other patients' privacy too.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

You can't undo a trend that is already firmly established and trying to will just get people po'd at you and isn't worth it.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

Photos should not be allowed in areas where other patients might be seen. I just tell people they can't take pictures in this area... And if they want to amuse themselves by taking pictures of themselves, it just keeps them off the call light.

[nursehaley91, BSN, RN]

My brother was in the hospital over the summer for major burns and ended up with 3 skin grafts. While they had him in hydro after his initial skin graft he tried taking pictures of his donor site and the nurse made him delete all pictures right in front of her even though literally nothing but his leg could be seen.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

I am also getting tired of the photos that show up of before, after and recovery of surgery that keep showing up on social media. Is there no privacy anymore? The last thing I want if photos of me taken while in the hospital, feeling yucky, undergoing procedure. My husband will be having surgery soon and I can promise you that there will be no photos of him during that time.

That being said, when my husband broke his ankle a couple of years ago, I did take a couple of photos of the ankle (only the ankle) to have as a reference. Only a handful of people have seen the photos. He couldn't believe what it looked like when he saw him. As I said, they were more for my personal reference and have never made it to social media.

[CountryMomma, ASN, RN]

I took a picture of my son as he came out of his MAC. I made jokes about saving it for graduation, but I really took it so I could reassure the grandparents out of state who were very nervous about the procedure, and show my son when he was awake enough to comprehend.

It made him laugh.

[CountryMomma, ASN, RN]

No, I wouldn't tape it. I also made sure the nurse was not in the pic - I've had pt's take pics of me giving care and I'm not impressed with the practice.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

As long as I am not in it, and neither are any other patients, I don't care. It annoys me, but I have bigger fish to fry anymore.

[Karou]

I am in my 20's and feel like my generation and those sense has this huge need to plaster the entire lives on social media.

I am certain the day will come when someone decides to share a birthing lady partsl shot. Why not?

I've seen "cute" hospital selfies where the girl is holding her patient armband ID up with a frown so everyone can see that it's legit, she is in the hospital, cue sympathy and visitors please.

Personally, I am just really disgusted by the amount of time people waste on social media in general. I use it rarely, and primarily to keep updated with family who live far away.

As far as at work goes... I really don't care if a patient takes a photo unless myself or another patient is in it. It is their body and their right to do whatever they want, even if I think it's silly or foolish. If they ask, I don't even mind assisting them in certain situations. Especially if it's a photo of a wound or incision. I instruct all of my post op pts to view their incision and if they want I will help them take a picture. I don't know if they will put it on Facebook, use it as evidence when they sue us (kidding... Sort of) or use it as personal reference for wound healing.